Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“You’re welcome,” she gloats, walking back to her computer and closing the laptop, “but you still didn’t answer the question.” She looks over at Abigail. “Are you moving in here?”
“I don’t know,” Abigail says, looking at me and then at Penelope to see if she has something to say.
“Penelope,” I call her name, and she looks over from the television, “should Abigail move in with us?”
“Yes,” she replies, turning back to watch her show.
I look at Abigail, who slaps my arm. “What was that for?”
“How could you just ask her like that?” she asks between her clenched teeth.
“How else did you want me to ask her?” I walk over to her and put my arms on her shoulders while she holds my hips. “Move in with us.”
“You might as well just say yes,” Gabriella pushes. “You know you want to, plus…” She holds up her finger. “I think he likes you.” She winks at me, and I squeeze my eyebrows together. “See, he didn’t even fall for my charms.”
“She’s pregnant with my child!” I shriek. “Why the hell would I fall for anyone’s charm?” I look back at Abigail, who is trying really hard not to laugh. “What do you say?”
“Ugh,” she grunts. “Fine, I guess I’ll move in with you.”
“Like it’s that much of a struggle,” Gabriella teases. “Hey, P,” she calls her name, “want to come over to my house and do manis and pedis?” Penelope jumps off the couch.
“Dad, can I?” she asks, and I look at Abigail, who nods. She jumps up and down. “Is this a sleepover?”
“We can,” Gabriella says, “there is a room that no one has been in.” She grabs her stuff from the counter. “Someone has to sleep in it.”
“Are you sure?” Abigail asks Gabriella, and she just looks at me.
“How hard can it be? She can talk and goes to the bathroom by herself,” Gabriella replies, “like she literally can take care of herself.” She looks over at Penelope. “Isn’t that right?”
“I can Uber my own food,” she announces, crossing her arms over her chest.
“You do not order your own food,” I retort, rolling my eyes. She shocks me when she picks up her iPhone and shows me the Uber Eats app. “What credit card is that?”
“I don’t know. I took one from your wallet,” she admits. “You told me to the last time.”
“When?” I ask her, shocked.
“When you were in bed, and I was hungry,” she reminds me. “It’s fine. I only used it a couple of times.”
“You know what would be funny?” Gabriella asks. “If you ordered like three hundred dollars’ worth of cupcakes for fun.” She puts her arm over Penelope’s shoulder. “Do you want to bring a change of clothes?”
“I’ll go get my bag,” she says, running up the stairs.
“Don’t you dare let her watch any of your shows,” Abigail warns in a whisper.
“Define shows,” Gabriella pushes.
“Love Island,” Abigail fires right away. “No Love Island.”
She rolls her eyes at her. “That was on already at three o’clock, so she’s safe.”
Penelope comes back with her bag. “Bye, Dad,” she says to me, getting on her tippy-toes and kissing my cheek when I lean down. “Bye, Abigail.” She walks over and hugs her.
“If you want to come home, all you have to do is call me,” I remind her as she turns to walk out of the room.
“Take care of you and the baby,” Gabriella says to Abigail, giving her a hug, then leaning down and talking to her stomach. “Bye from your favorite aunt.”
“You know how the baby got there?” Penelope asks, and I close my eyes. “They had sex.”
Gabriella looks at her and then back at us. “You don’t say?”
“Yeah, that’s how babies get in the stomach,” Penelope informs her.
“Well, not exactly,” Gabriella replies and Abigail jumps forward.
“Okay, that talk is for another day,” Abigail grumbles between clenched teeth as we walk them out the door.
We stand on the porch. “She’s going to be okay, right?” I look over at Abigail, who just shakes her head.
“We can hope,” Abigail replies. “I mean, she’ll protect her with her life. But I’m not sure about her mouth.”
“We are kid free,” I remind her. “Well, almost kid free.” I put my hand on her stomach.
“What will we do with all this free time?” she asks with a twinkle in her eye.
“Well, the first time we are going to do it, I’m going to eat some dessert.” I walk her into the house and up the stairs immediately. “Then you’re going to have some dessert.”
“I think I’m full.” She rolls her lips at me, and I pull her to me to kiss her. I take her in the bedroom, and she does actually eat dessert. Twice.
EPILOGUE TWO
TRISTAN
A few months later
“This has been the longest road trip of my life,” I grumble, unbuckling my seat belt when the plane finally touches down. We have been away from home for the last seven days, which usually isn’t that bad, but Abigail is officially a week late and I was scared she would give birth when I wasn’t there. Nico had the plane on standby, just in case, but I also knew she wouldn’t want to bother me so she would pretend she was always okay.